Exercise device and method of exercising

ABSTRACT

An exercise device includes a belt configured to be secured around the waist, hips or torso of a person, or to a fixed object adjacent a person. The belt has a front portion configured to be disposed at the front of the person and a back portion configured to be disposed at the back of a person. A pair of spaced apart elastomeric cords are mounted from a proximal cord end to the front portion of the belt and a grip mounted to a distal end of the elastomeric cord. A method of using the device and exercises that can be used therewith are also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. §120 of copending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/908,764 filed on Sep. 14, 2007. U.S. application Ser. No. 11/908,764 is a National Stage entry under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application serial no. PCT/AU2006/001070 filed on Jul. 28, 2006. International Application serial no. PCT/AU2006/001070 claims priority under the Paris Convention to Australian application serial no. 2005904094 filed on Jul. 29, 2005. The entire contents of each of these applications is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to exercise equipment and, in particular, to an exercise device and a method of exercising.

The inventive concept described herein has been developed primarily for use as a general fitness and training exercise device and will be described hereinafter with reference to this particular application. However, it will be appreciated that the inventive concept is not limited to this particular field of use and is applicable for use in other fields such as rehabilitation.

A large variety of personal exercise equipment is known. Such comes in many shapes and sizes. A particularly common type of exercise equipment is a gymnasium machine that includes a weight stack mounted for vertical movement. The number of weights in the stack is selectable, and the stack is connected to one end of a cable. The cable is passed over one or more pulleys and extends adjacent to the machine at about the shoulder height of a person and is connected to one or more handles.

In use, a person is disposed adjacent the machine with their front pointing away from it. The person clasps the handle(s) from over their shoulder and extends their arms. This pulls the cable away from the machine resulting in the weight stack being moved vertically providing resistance to the pulling of the cable. It will be appreciated that these known types of exercise machines are capable of exercising a particular muscle group.

However, the conventional exercise machines are typically large and fixed to a floor. The machines therefore are best suited to a gymnasium or a large personal gym. Unfortunately, the use of the machines in a home environment is relatively prohibitive due to the significant cost of the machines. Furthermore, such machines are generally only configured to exercise a single muscle group, for example, the latissimus or shoulders can cannot be simply used to exercise other muscle groups.

SUMMARY

One or more embodiments of this disclosure provide a portable exercise device that can be used to exercise a plurality of muscle groups and that can be used in a plurality of environments, or to provide a useful alternative.

According to a first aspect of this disclosure, an exercise device includes a belt configured to be secured around the waist, hips or torso of a person, the belt having a front portion configured to be disposed at the front of the person and a back portion configured to be disposed at the back of a person; a pair of spaced apart elastomeric cords mounted from a proximal cord end to the front portion of the belt; and a grip mounted to a distal end of the elastomeric cord.

In one embodiment, the belt includes a fastener disposed at each end such that when secured around the person the belt length can be selectively adjusted. In another aspect, the belt is formed from two pieces wherein ends of a back belt piece are configured to be releasably mounted to the ends of a front belt piece.

In one or more embodiments, the elastomeric cords are mounted to a left-hand side and a right-hand side of the front portion of the belt, and cords are movable a predetermined distance along the length of the belt. In one aspect, the elastomeric cords are looped at one end to allow their length to be adjusted and the cords are detachably mounted to the belt.

In one embodiment, the grip at the end of each elastomeric cord includes a stirrup or a glove.

According to second aspect, a method of exercising using the device according to the first aspect or any one of its variations includes the steps of fastening the belt around the hips, waist or torso of a person, or a fixed object adjacent a person; connecting the handle of each elastomeric cord to an arm or a leg; and extending the elastomeric cords.

According to another aspect of this disclosure, a method of exercising using the device according to the first aspect or any one of its variations includes the steps of placing the belt on a floor with the front portion of the belt facing upward; connecting the handle to each arm; and extending the elastomeric cords in a pre-determined manner at a pre-determined rate.

It can therefore be seen that there is advantageously provided an exercise device and a method of exercising that overcomes limitations of conventional approaches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of this disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exercise device according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of an exercise device according to another embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an exercise device according to yet another embodiment; and

FIG. 4 shows the device of any one of FIGS. 1 to 3 in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings generally, it is noted that like reference numerals are used to denote like components. In FIG. 1, a plan view of exercise device 1 is shown according to an embodiment. Exercise device 1 includes belt 2 that is configured to be secured around the waist, hips or torso of a person.

Belt 2 includes front portion 3 that is configured to be disposed adjacent the front of a person when secured about them. Belt 2 also includes back portion 4 configured to be disposed adjacent the back of a person when secured to them.

Belt 2 includes fastener 5 in the form of a buckle. Buckle 5 is disposed at one end 6 of belt 2 such that the other end 7 of belt 2 can be fastened thereto to secure belt 2 about a person with a preferred degree of “tightness”.

A pair of spaced apart elastomeric cords 8 and 9 are mounted to front portion 3 of belt 2. Cords 8 and 9 are mounted to front portion 3 at a proximal end of the cords and are disposed such that one cord 8 is disposed on a left hand side of front portion 3 and the other cord 9 is disposed on a right hand side of front portion 3.

Both of elastomeric cords 8 and 9 are mounted to front portion 3 of belt 2. In FIG. 1, cords 8 and 9 are mounted to belt 2 to allow the cords to be selectively positioned along front 3 of belt 2. In this embodiment, cords 8 and 9 have latch 10 that removably engages with notches 11 to secure the proximal end of cords 8 and 9.

The distal end of each cord 8 and 9 includes grip 12 in the form of a glove. Each glove 12 is in the form of a sheet having thumb aperture 13 such that glove 12 is wrapped around the hand of a person. Glove 12 is secured to a hand with Velcro tabs 14 that engage with each other to secure glove 12 on a hand.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown exercise device 1 according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, belt 2 is formed from two halves defining belt front portion 3 and belt back portion 4.

Belt back portion 4 includes buckle 15 at each end, however, only one buckle is visible in FIG. 2. Each buckle 15 is configured to be secured to an end of belt front portion 3 to secure belt 2 to a person.

As with the embodiment of FIG. 1, cords 8 and 9 are mounted to front portion 3 of belt 2. Cords 8 and 9 are retainable within one of three loops disposed on each of the left and right hand sides of front portion 3 of belt 2. In this way, cords 8 and 9 can be moved along belt 2 to secure the proximal ends of cords 8 and 9 in a user-preferred position.

Cords 8 and 9 are each looped around one of the loops on belt front portion 3. These cord loops 16 are secured by clamp 17 that can be selectively loosened to allow loops 16 to be increased in size and thereby reduce the length of cords 8 and 9, or loops 16 can be decreased in size to thereby increase the length of cords 8 and 9. In this way, clamps 17 can be used to release cords 8 and 9 from belt front portion 3.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, each grip 12 at the distal end of cords 8 and 9 is in the form of stirrup 12. Wrist strap 18 is disposed adjacent each stirrup 12. Wrist straps 18 are configured to wrap around the wrist of a person when gripping the stirrups.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of another embodiment of exercise device 1. In this embodiment, device 1 includes belt 2 having front portion 3 and back portion 4. Back portion 4 is in the form of a strap connected to front portion 3. The strap of back portion 4 is configured to releasably engage with belt faster 5 disposed on front portion 2.

Elastomeric cords 8 and 9 are fixedly mounted to front portion 3 of belt 2. Elastomeric cords 8 and 9 each include handle 12 mounted to a free end.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4 in which various views of a person 19 exercising with device 1 are shown. Person 19 exercising their biceps simply secures belt 1 around their hips, and their lower arms are moved upwardly against the bias of the elastomeric cords. Punching exercises are performed by securing belt 1 about the torso of person 19 and thrusting the arms forward in a reciprocating or piston-like manner. It will be appreciated the punching exercises can include uppercuts or other preferred type of punch.

Shoulder press exercises are performed by securing belt 2 about the torso of person 19 and extending both arms above their head. A delta fly exercise can be performed by securing the belt about the torso of person 19 and having them raise their arms laterally or move them forward. Triceps extension exercises can be performed by securing belt 2 about the torso of person 19 such that the person leans forward by bending at the waist and then extending and bending their arms.

In the bicep curl exercise shown in FIG. 4, it will be appreciated that belt 2 can be advantageously disposed about the knee or thighs of the person to perform the exercise in addition to about the waist/torso as shown.

Lower body exercises can also be used with belt 2 by securing grips 12 to the ankles of person 19. For example, a leg extension exercise can be performed by securing belt 2 about the waist of person 19 where the person sits down and bends and flexes their knees. Likewise, squat exercises can be performed by securing belt 1 about the waist of person 19 where the person stands and bends and flexes both legs. In another lower body exercise, the belt 1 is disposed about the waist of the person and grips 12 secured to be ankles of the person wherein the person thrusts their leg forward in a kicking manner.

In another form of exercise using exercise device 1, device 1 is placed on the floor with front portion 3 of the belt facing upward. Person 19 stands on the belt and secures the grips to their hands. The person then bends slightly forward with their arms being pulled up in a rolling like manner.

The next exercise shown in FIG. 4 is a standing rowing exercise. It will be appreciated that the user can place belt 2 about the ends of their feet when in a seated position so as to exercise by simulating a conventional rowing-type stroke. The user's legs can be bent or straight in the rowing exercise.

Although not illustrated, it will also be appreciated that other exercises can be performed with device 1. For example, belt 2 can be disposed about, or otherwise secured to, a fixed object that is on or adjacent a floor. In this way, the person can lay on their back or side with their head adjacent belt 2 so that cords 8 and 9 extend over their shoulder(s) to provide resistance against a forward or sideways sit-up movement.

The foregoing describes only various embodiments and aspects of the present disclosure and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the inventive concept as set forth in the following claims. 

1. An exercise device, comprising: a belt configured to be secured around the waist, hips or torso of a person, the belt having a front portion configured to be disposed at the front of the person and a back portion configured to be disposed at the back of a person; a pair of spaced apart elastomeric cords mounted from a proximal cord end to the front portion of the belt; and a grip mounted to a distal end of the elastomeric cord, wherein the belt is formed from two pieces wherein ends of a back belt piece are configured to be releasably mounted to the ends of a front belt piece.
 2. An exercise device, comprising: a belt configured to be secured around the waist, hips or torso of a person, the belt having a front portion configured to be disposed at the front of the person and a back portion configured to be disposed at the back of a person; a pair of spaced apart elastomeric cords mounted from a proximal cord end to the front portion of the belt; and a grip mounted to a distal end of the elastomeric cord, wherein the elastomeric cords are movable a predetermined distance along the length of the belt and fixable therealong.
 3. A method of exercising using the device according to claim 1, the method comprising: fastening the belt around the hips, waist or torso of a person or behind the heel of a person or under the feet of a person, or a fixed object adjacent a person; connecting the handle of each elastomeric cord to an arm or a leg; and extending the elastomeric cords; or including the steps of: placing the belt on a floor with the front portion of the belt facing upward; connecting the handle to each arm; and extending the elastomeric cords in a pre-determined manner and at a pre-determined rate.
 4. A method of exercising using the device according to claim 2, the method comprising: fastening the belt around the hips, waist or torso of a person or behind the heel of a person or under the feet of a person, or a fixed object adjacent a person; connecting the handle of each elastomeric cord to an arm or a leg; and extending the elastomeric cords; or including the steps of: placing the belt on a floor with the front portion of the belt facing upward; connecting the handle to each arm; and extending the elastomeric cords in a pre-determined manner and at a pre-determined rate.
 5. An exercise device, comprising: a belt configured to be secured around a waist, hips or torso of a person, the belt having a front portion configured to be disposed at a front of the person and a back portion configured to be disposed at a back of a person; a pair of spaced apart elastomeric cords mounted from a proximal cord end to the front portion of the belt; and a grip mounted to it distal end of each of the spaced apart elastomeric cords, wherein the elastomeric cords are each looped at one end thereof and configured to allow an associated length to be adjusted.
 6. An exercise device according to claim 5, wherein the belt extends between a pair of ends and includes a fastener disposed at each end such that, when secured around the person, a belt length can be selectively adjusted.
 7. An exercise device according to claim 5, wherein the belt comprises two pieces, wherein ends of a back belt piece are configured to be releasably mounted to corresponding ends of a front belt piece.
 8. An exercise device according to claim 5, wherein the elastomeric cords are mounted to a left-hand side and a right hand side of the front portion of the belt, respectively.
 9. An exercise device according to claim 5, wherein the cords are moveable a predetermined distance along a length of the belt and fixable therealong.
 10. An exercise device according to claim 5, wherein the elastomeric cords are detachably mounted to the belt.
 11. An exercise device according to claim 5, wherein the grip at the end of each elastomeric cord comprises a stirrup.
 12. An exercise device according to claim 5, wherein the grip at the end of each elastomeric cord comprises a glove.
 13. A method of exercising using the device according to claim 5, the method comprising: fastening the belt to a fixed object adjacent the person; connecting the grip of each elastomeric cord to an arm or a leg; and extending the elastomeric cords.
 14. A method of exercising using an exercise device comprising a belt configured to be secured around a waist, hips, arms, feet, or torso of a user, the belt having a front portion configured to be disposed at a front of the user and a back portion configured to be disposed at a back of a user, and a pair of spaced apart elastomeric cords mounted from a proximal cord end to the front portion of the belt, and a grip mounted to a distal end of each elastomeric cord, the method comprising: placing the belt on a floor with the front portion of the belt facing upward; connecting at least one of the grips to an arm of the user; and extending at least one elastomeric cord in a predetermined manner and at a predetermined rate.
 15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said placing the belt on a floor comprises placing the belt under one or more of the feet of the user or under an adjacent object.
 16. A method of exercising using an exercise device comprising a belt configured to be secured around a waist, hips, arms, feet, or torso of a user, the belt having a front portion configured to be disposed at a front of the user and a back portion configured to be disposed at a back of the user, a pair of spaced apart elastomeric cords mounted from a proximal cord end to the front portion of the belt, and a grip mounted to a distal end of each elastomeric cord, the method comprising: placing at least a portion of the belt behind the user's upper spine with the front portion of the belt facing the user's spine and connecting the grip to each arm; and extending the elastomeric cords in a predetermined manner and at a predetermined rate.
 17. A method of exercising using an exercise device comprising a belt configured to be secured around a waist, hips, feet, arm, or torso of a user, the belt having a front portion configured to be disposed at a front of the user and a back portion configured to be disposed at a back of the user, a pair of spaced apart elastomeric cords mounted from a proximal cord end to the front portion of the belt, and a grip mounted to a distal end of each elastomeric cord, the method comprising: placing the belt over soles of the feet with the front portion of the belt facing toward the user upward; connecting the grip to each arm; and extending the elastomeric cords in a predetermined manner and at a predetermined rate. 